Bio: John Lake, Caddo Parish La
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker
sueshoe@hotmail.com




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John Lake, sheriff and collector of Caddo Parish, has been a resident of
the same since thirteen years of age and the confidence which the people
have in him is therefore intelligently placed, for they have had every
opportunity to judge of his character and qualifications.  He was
originally from South Carolina, his birth occurring in Edgefield County,
June 12, 1840, and is the son of Elias and Eleanor (Henderson) Lake,
natives of South Carolina.  In 1853 the parents emigrated to the Creole
State and located in Caddo Parish, where the father died in 1858.  He was a
planter by occupation.  The mother is still living and is now residing in
Marshall, Tex., in her eightieth year.  She was the mother of thirteen
children, has never in her life weighed over ninety pounds, and is rarely
sick.  There are two sons and four daughters now living.  John Lake was but
a lad when he came to Caddo Parish, and he subsequently returned to South
Carolina, where he attended Furman University at Greenville, graduating in
1861.  He made a speech at the close and then enlisted immediately in
Company A, Hampton Legion, serving two years.  He received but one slight
wound during service.  In the winter of 1862 he returned to Shreveport,
La., and was on detached service.  Later he was engaged in planting,
lumbering, merchandising and speculating for many years.  In 1879 he was
elected sheriff and collector, and so great was his popularity that he has
been elected twice since.  The first time he had seven competitors, the
second time one, and the third time none at all.  It is but saying the
truth when the statement is made that no more capable man for the position
could be found than Mr. Lake.  He is popular with all, kind and courteous
in his intercourse with his fellow-men, and is always willing to aid any
enterprise which tends to the interests of Caddo Parish.  He owns a large
cotton plantation, and is very successful in this pursuit.  His wife was
formerly Miss Josephine Wood, a native of South Carolina, whom he married
in 1862, and eight children have been the fruits of this union:  Elias,
Isaac W., Nellie H. (wife of W. A. Mabray), Lizzie L. (wife of W. B.
Figgers, an attorney of Jefferson, Tex.), Joseph R., Thomas H., John and
Mattie J.  Socially Mr. Lake is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the K. of
P., A. O. U. W., K. of H. and K. of St. J.  Mr. Lake is one of the
well-known and popular spirited citizens of Northwest Louisiana.  He stands
at the head in a social point of view and is in every sense of the word a
gentleman.